Wonder Blog

Monday, July 11, 2022 5:04 PM

For my Wonder Blog Mini-Project, I created a field guide of plants and trees in Brewster Gardens. It is different from other field guides in that it not only includes species common to the area, but species that tend to catch one’s eye. Included in the guide are the variable watermilfoil and the giant butterbur, both of which have captured my interest since my first visit to the site. This field guide is quite representative of the history of this park, in that there is a mixture of native and non-native species. The park, which was overgrown and swamp-like at the time of its creation, has been carefully cultivated by Plymouth citizens. This human development may account for some of the non-native species found in the Gardens.

The creation of the field guide pushed me to use more thorough observation of the species I focused on. Many plant and tree species look very similar, so identification requires nuance and precise observation. I noticed more and more details as I narrowed down my genus and specie. I had not done a lot of specie identification in the past, so it was a rewarding process to identify the organisms I saw in front of me.

References

INaturalist. iNaturalist. (2022). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.inaturalist.org/

projects, C. to W. (2018, June 30). Acer rubrum. Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum

Monday, July 4, 2022: 77°F 2:09 PM sunny with a few clouds, slightly windy.

I found a big leaf on the ground. It’s about a foot long, maybe 10-11 inches across. The left side of the midrib is a darker green than the right. The left side is also a bit wet. I looked up and there was a tree with the same sort of leaves. The tree’s trunk appears to have branched off into two trunks that sort of twisted back together. I wonder how biologically this sort of thing happens. The other tree trunks in the area don’t have this ‘twist.’ Was there a disturbance that just affected this tree? Along the elevation line, it appeared that there were several trees of the same species as the ‘twist’ trunk. How does this kind of tree reproduce? What canopy requirements does it have? Is this species of tree an eco-indicator? Between the tree line and the brook, there was a patch of grass, plants, and other trees. There was a fair amount of moss in the grass. The soil of the grass was quite muddy. Was it wet because the land slopes towards the brook? Maybe it was especially muddy today because there have been a couple of big thunderstorms the past few days. There was a small bird amongst the muddier grass. Next to the bird, there was a patch of grass that was especially muddy, with lightly colored flowers scattered in it. The flowers were about half of a centimeter in diameter and appeared to have fallen off from the plant above. The plant above it seemed to have had a couple of these flowers still growing on it. I heard a decent number of birds, including what sounded like a crow. I also heard a couple of people in their nearby backyards. As I wrote this entry in my field journal, a pair of brown bunnies chased each other all around the park.

I decided to identify and research the tree with the big leaves. Using a combination of a leaf identifying website, a couple google searches, and iNaturalist, I came to the conclusion that the tree is an American Sycamore, plantanus occidentalis. They require moist well-drained soil and commonly grow on riverbanks, so it makes sense that there was a lot of them growing along Town Brook. They thrive in full sun, so these trees may have outcompeted other trees that require shadier areas. Although, these trees do not indicate much about the ecosystem, because they are generalists and will survive in most conditions.

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ploc

Photographs:

1. City Underneath the Leaves: This first picture was taken underneath the leaves of what looked like a patch of rhubarb plants. Every time I visit my Wonder spot, I am always drawn to the thick patch of these plants, with their over a foot long leaves. The patch is so lush that the ground underneath the leaves is hidden. I always imagine a little community of insects and small mammals live underneath the cover of the gigantic leaves.

2. Tectonic Bark: This is a photograph of the bark of a tree that I could not identify. I was drawn to this bark by the little ring it seemed to make in some spots. It reminded me of two tectonic plates converging and forming a mountain range.

3. Lush River Lawn: Something that made me choose Brewster Gardens as my Wonder Spot was the lush aquatic grass that grows the whole length of Town Brook. It looks so soft and beautiful, and I love watching it sway in the current. I took this photograph to try and capture the softness.

4. Abstract Aquatics: When I was taking the picture above, I noticed that the current on the water distorts the shapes of the objects in the river. I was drawn in by the vibrant shade of green this strand of aquatic grass was in the sun.

5. Eastern Black Walnut Pt. 2: After sketching the eastern black walnut tree last week, I was drawn back to the same tree. I love the way that the compound leaves look against the blue sky. The visual looks textured and trippy in a way.

When I sketched on site, I noticed tiny details while I was there. When I took photographs, I noticed these tiny details only after I had left and was editing the pictures. Sketching made me reflect more there, while photography made me reflect afterwards. The mediums are similar in that you make reality how you want it to look. In photography, you use different angles, lens, and editing to portray your point of view. In sketching, you can use different points of view and subject selection to portray your ideas. Photography made me consider more of how the objects in the space were arranged. When I was trying to frame my pictures and find interesting subjects, I was looking at the lines in the landscape. This made me consider how each element of Brewster Gardens connects.

Photographing the site was a helpful way to view the area at different angles. I got to know the space not just from eye level, but from ground level and other angles I used while photographing.

Saturday, July 2, 2022 6:07 PM. 83°F overcast, slight wind.

I see two swans and five babies leaving the riverbank and going into the water. The older swans keep taking a mouthful of water and shaking its head. On the ‘shore’ there are tons of down feathers and regular feathers. Half-eaten bread and animal skat (possibly from a goose) also litter the grass next to the water. There’s a big skid mark in the grass on the grassy riverbank. I wonder if this was from a human, or a larger animal. It is most likely from a human because there are no claw marks or paw prints nearby. Underneath some shrubbery near the river, there is a pile of plastic shot bottles. In the river, upon looking closer at the aquatic grass, there appears to be a mixture of pine-branch-looking grass and skinnier strands with oval leaves. Some of the skinnier strands of aquatic grass is brown. I wonder if it is dead or if that’s its natural color. The water is lukewarm, probably about 65°F. The bottom of the river near the bank is dark in color and consists of a mixture of decomposing twigs, leaves, and mud. As I examined the mud, something made a splash near me. I looked towards the sound, and I saw the shadow of a fish swimming away. Across the river, closer to the opposite bank, the river bottom is lighter in color, perhaps made of sand.

Amongst all of the greenery–grass, trees, plants, aquatic grass–there is a spot of dark red in the Gardens. This pop of color, this difference, is what drew me towards the Japanese maple tree to identify it. To determine the tree’s species, first I examined the leaves. They looked similar to a sugar maple’s leaves, so I did a quick google search ‘dark purple maple tree’ and crimson king and Japanese maple were the top results. After comparing the leaves of crimson king, Japanese maple, and the leaves on the tree in front of me, I determined that it was the Japanese maple. The acer palmatum’s leaves are sometimes eaten after being coated in a sugary batter and fried. In fact, they have been enjoyed for at least a thousand years in Osaka, Japan.

Sketches:

Sketching in the field is a useful tool for thorough observation. I noticed the tiniest of details as I was sketching. For example, when I was sketching the Forget-Me-Nots, I noticed how each flower had a little white star surrounding the yellow center. I never would have noticed that if I was just passing by them or even if I was taking a picture. It was peaceful to devote all of my attention to one thing, especially something that was natural. Before I got into my flow, it was hard to sit myself down and really focus on the shapes and textures of what I was drawing. I found drawing the different values/light in my subjects the most difficult part. After I was done sketching, I found myself trying to notice the smaller details of my surroundings. That is why nature sketching is extremely useful to really study the environment you are in. The next time I go to my Wonder Blog spot, I’d like to pay closer attention to the tree species if possible.

Saturday, June 25th, 2022 5:46 PM. Blue sky with no clouds, slight breeze, 80°F.

The park, Brewster Gardens, is lush and green. I stand on a paved path that has a stream on one side, and grass and trees on the other. At one end of the stream, named Town Brook, there is a grist mill. This seems to be a place that might experience a lot of edge effects, because the park is near the town center. There is cut grass and some overgrown areas where nature has taken over what was curated by humans. The area is mostly shaded by the trees but there are gaps in the canopy that let sunshine down to the ground. There is a wide variety of age and species of trees. I hear traffic, flowing water, and many different bird songs. It smells damp and earthy like the kind of water that have little visibility and are slow moving. It also smells a bit like food and grease, which makes sense because there are restaurants nearby. I see bugs flying in the air, especially surrounding the water. There are a couple moths and butterflies. There are smaller bird species flying above and walking on the ground. Some of the species in the sky may even be bats. I see a bird eating berries off of a tree. There are grey squirrels running around on the ground and in the trees. A couple fish (about 4 inches in size) swim around in the stream. The whole length of the stream has a lush growth of aquatic grass.

1. There is a sign that says the grist mill was built in 1636. How much of the park has been curated by humans? How have the type and variety of species changed over time from disturbance?
2. What is the water source for this brook?
3. How does the pumping of the grist mill affect what lives in the river?
4. Where does the brook empty into?
5. Is this a good habitat for nesting birds?
6. What silvicultural methods, if any, are being carried out on this plot of land?
7. This park is surrounded by busy streets and stores. How do the edge effects play into which kind of species can thrive in this ecosystem?
8. How do the sounds of traffic affect the species that live in the park?
9. There are small streetlamps along the path. Are prey more susceptible to being caught by their predators with this extra visibility at night?
10. There is a tree beside the brook with decaying leaves. There are small, shiny bugs on the leaves. Are these bugs native to this area?
11. If the bug is an invasive species, is it affecting other plants/trees? Or is it particularly harmful to this species of tree?
12. If the bugs are invasive, how did they get to be in this area?
13. Why are the leaves browning on this tree?
14. Is this browning natural or are the bugs to blame?
15. There is a pipe that drains into the brook. What is being deposited into the water?
16. How do these deposits effect the aquatic ecosystem?
17. Do the groundskeepers use chemicals to curate the grass? If so, how is this affecting the water?
18. Have the species in the river adapted to live in water that might be especially susceptible to physical and chemical changes by runoff?
19. Some species of aquatic plants are an indication of healthy/unhealthy pH. What do the aquatic plants in the brook indicate?
20. How healthy is the water?
21. What kinds of things live in the grass in the brook?
22. What types of rock are in the river?
23. How did the rocks end up in the river?
24. How does the brown stuff collect on top of the water? What is it?
25. Was this river an area of importance to the indigenous people, the Wampanoags, that used to live here?
26. Why does this particular species of plant abruptly start and end?
27. I see bamboo in the yard of a nearby house. Bamboo is pretty invasive and will take over an area pretty easily. How has the bamboo not spread yet?

Reference pictures from questions:

Questions 1, 2, 4, 24 Answer:

Town Brook runs 1.5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to Billington Sea (a pond). For thousands of years, Town Brook was essential to the Wampanoag tribe’s livelihood. Its freshwater is the spawning ground of river herring, which were eaten, preserved, used as fertilizer, and signaled the start of the planting season. The path alongside the brook was a part of the Namassakeeset Trail, which was a path used by the Native Americans that ran the length of the river starting at Billington Sea. This source of freshwater and the thatch materials that grew on the riverbanks were two of the main reasons the pilgrims chose Plymouth as their place of settlement. When the pilgrims arrived, the river became an essential source of water and herring for fertilizer and food. Brewster Gardens is on the same plot of land that was colonist Elder William Brewster’s garden plot in 1620. Jenney Grist Mill was built in 1636 and today a replica continues to pump water. In the 1760s, dams were built to harness the power of the river for nail, textile, and anchor production. The use of the mills and dams decreased when more efficient technology was utilized during the Civil War. The colonists began to make passageways for the fish to pass through the dams when they noticed the decreasing populations.

In 1921-1923, the area had become Barne’s Mill Pond, which was overgrown and swamp-like. The park was established to celebrate the 300-year anniversary of Plymouth. The use of the grist mill ended in 2002 and by 2019, all of the dams were removed to restore the herrings’ passage from the ocean to Billington Sea. The Town of Plymouth continues to work with NOAA to restore the watershed to its historic herring run levels. It is said that during colonial times, in one tide 12,000 herring swam upstream. In 2018, an estimated 185,000 herring ran up the river, a great improvement from 40,000 yearly in the 1900s.

Brewster Gardens is a peaceful, natural oasis in the center of town. As I was walking around, I couldn’t help but feel like the area was pretty manicured. Despite this, there is a decent variety of species and habitat, from the river to the surrounding trees and plants. I’d like to catalogue the tree and plant species on iNaturalist. Specifically, I’d like to identify and learn more about the aquatic plants. They were so lush and beautiful, and I’d like to know if they indicate anything about the water quality. I’d also like to identify what kind of plant (pictured in question 26) was living on the riverbank, and if anything lives underneath its big leaves. After learning the area’s history, I can’t help but think about the loss of this important area for the Wampanoags. What once was an area of Native American livelihood is now a park for tourists. I’d like to look more into this cultural connection, and if the current day Wampanoags are granted any rights to Town Brook.

Bruton, J. M. (2020, June 13). Brewster Gardens Historical Marker. Historical Marker. Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=151301

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